Chemical constituents of total alkaloids from Picrasma quassioides and its effects on collagen induced arthritis in rats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of total alkaloids from Picrasma quassioides(TAPQ)on collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)in rats. TAPQ were prepared by acid extraction and alkali precipitation. The qualitative analysis of TAPQ by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was carried out. Fourteen alkaloids were obtained and three of them were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC. The anti-inflammatory activity of TAPQ was investigated on RAW264. 7 induced by LPS. Dexamethasone was used as a positive control. The model of bovine type II collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis in SD rats was established. Daily tail intravenous injection of 0. 907 or 1. 814 mg/kg of TAPQ was administered for 18 days continuously, using dexamethasone as a positive control. The changes of mean arthritis scores in the paw of the rats and the volume of the paw were measured every day. Compared with the model group, the TAPQ significantly reduced the degree of paw swelling(P< 0. 001). After the rats were sacrificed, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum were measured. The TAPQ could significantly reduce the level of TNF-α(P< 0. 01)and IL-6(P< 0. 001). The pathological changes of the joints were observed by HE staining, the anti-inflammatory activity of TAPQ was good, and the degree of joint damage in rats was obviously reduced.